Seriously Guys..........The Navy Colt does not have the opening on both sides of the frame to allow a "half loaded" cylinder to rotate past the rammer. The Army Colt does. But on both revolvers there is a thing called the barrel that is going to stop that cylinder from rotating back around to the ramming position if a ball is protruding past the face of said cylinder. Plus, if the ball isn't rammed home then just take your fingers, the ones on your hand, and pull the ball free. After all it hasn't been rammed into the cylinder. And disassembling one of these guns involves all of removing a wedge pin and wiggling the barrel from the frame. And that Cream of Wheat thing........I know some of us reenactors use such a method to keep blank powder rounds in the cylinder. But what would having the ball closer to the barrel do? All of the power from the powder charge is contained in the cylinder. The cylinder/barrrel gap is where you lose most of the powder's energy. Notice the flame and smoke that escapes from this point. More time in the cylinder equals more muzzle energy and velocity out of the barrel. Now Jerry, I'm sure you know that the 1851 Navy Colt is a 36 caliber weapon, where the 1860 Army Colt is a 44. So there is no way they shoot the same round or use the same powder charge. Recommended charges for these side arms using 3F powder and a round ball is as follows: 36 caliber - 16-25 grains; 44 caliber - 22-30 grains; and the Walker Colt (44 caliber) - 25-40 grains. Wildcat powder loads do NOTHING for accuracy and little for lethality. After all, if you can't hit it, it's not going to die. Noise and smoke are fun but I doubt you hit that 100 yard rifle target with much regularity shooting 50 grains of powder. A rifled musket of the period only used 60-70 grains of powder. As a cannoneer who usually shoots only blank rounds during reenactments and ceremonies has found, it's not how much powder you shoot, but how you prepare the charge that makes the difference. Only so much powder will explode/burn before the whole "wad" leaves the barrel and becomes smoke and burning embers. Trust me, I can make just as much noise with 8 ounces of powder as with 16. We've experimented. To sum it up, pack em tight, pack em light, and aim true. And if you are compettition shooting a revolver, get a cylinder loader that rams the round and powder off the frame of the gun. You'll be more accurate with your powder measure and seating the ball. Also, when Colt Firearms began manufacturing their blackpowder revolvers again in the 1960's 0r 70's they picked up with the same serial/production number that they stopped with when they quit production. I've got a 1851 Navy Colt that was produced in the 1970's. It is far superior in fit and finish than the several imports that I use for target practice and threatening Privates. ;-)

Class, dismissed.

First Sergeant Keith Saunders
Smith's Battery
Third Company
Richmond Howitzers
Mechanicsville, VA CSA